NYT Strands Hints and Answers for April 30, 2026 (#788)
Spoiler-safe hints for the NYT Strands puzzle of April 30, 2026: the theme clue first, then first letters, word lengths, the spangram, and the full grid.
Stuck on the Strands puzzle of April 30, 2026? Start with the theme, take one rung at a time, and stop as soon as the grid opens up. Nothing below is revealed until you tap it.
Hints for April 30, 2026, one rung at a time
ThemeToday’s theme
Wet blankets
Today’s theme is “Wet blankets”. All 6 theme words fit that idea — and the spangram names it outright.
Hint 1A gentle clue
The 6 answers belong to one everyday scene. Picture the scene first, then look for its pieces on the board. The spangram runs down the grid, top edge to bottom, so look for a long vertical path first.
Hint 2First letters
Sorted alphabetically, the first letters are A, D, H, M, S, V.
Hint 3Word lengths
The theme words are 4, 5, 5, 7, 7 and 8 letters long. The shortest is 4 letters, the longest 8.
SpangramThe spangram
CONDENSATION
It is a single word of 12 letters and it touches two opposite sides of the board.
Starts with C, ends with N.
AnswersAll theme words
- MIST4 letters
- STEAM5 letters
- VAPOR5 letters
- AEROSOL7 letters
- DRIZZLE7 letters
- HUMIDITY8 letters
BoardThe completed grid
Theme wordSpangramEach line follows one word; the small number is that letter’s place in it.